Should I still be miserable & constantly bloated/swollen 15 months after TT. Could something be wrong?

Dear Jewels1015,

I'm sorry to hear about your discomfort following your tummy tuck. It's quite unusual to experience persistent bloating, swelling, and discomfort 15 months after the surgery. While some swelling can occur for a few months post-surgery, most patients see a significant reduction in these symptoms by your stage of recovery.

If you are still experiencing these issues, it is essential to communicate this to your surgeon or consider a second opinion from another board-certified plastic surgeon. Persistent swelling and discomfort could be indicative of a seroma (a collection of fluid that builds up under the surface of your skin), hematoma, or perhaps another non-surgical related medical condition.

In very rare cases, retained surgical items could be a cause of persistent discomfort, but this is exceedingly uncommon, and imaging tests can usually identify any retained items. However, it is also possible that the tightness and swelling are due to over-correction or even the formation of scar tissue.

While your surgeon has mentioned that the discomfort could last up to two years, this is not the typical experience for most patients. A thorough medical evaluation is certainly in order, and possibly sooner rather than later.

Please reach out to your surgeon to discuss your concerns in more detail or consider seeking a second opinion. Remember, your health and comfort should be your top priority.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

I'm sorry to read that you're experiencing discomfort and dissatisfaction after your tummy tuck surgery.

Recovery and healing can vary from person to person, and it's not uncommon to experience some degree of swelling, tightness, and discomfort during the healing process.

It's important to note that it can take several months, and sometimes up to a year or more, for the final results of a tummy tuck to fully manifest. Swelling and tightness are expected during the initial stages of recovery, and they gradually diminish over time.

However, if you're experiencing persistent and significant discomfort, swelling, and bloating, it's essential to discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon. They can evaluate your condition, perform a physical examination, and address any potential issues or complications.
They may recommend additional tests, examinations, or treatments to address your discomfort and help guide you through the recovery process.

I hope this help,
best of luck !

Dear Jewels1015,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you so much for your question dear @Jewels1015. And sorry to hear your recovery process has not been as expected, please keep in mind soreness and inflammation are part of your recovery specially for this type of surgery procedure at least for 1 years PO or more depending how your body heals, every patient is different, In the same way, I recommend that you always keep in mind to reduce the consumption of salt in your food as well as junk food and foods high in sugar, this type of food makes you bloat more than it should. As you already has 15 months PO my recommendation will be to have a physical consultation with your surgeon and he can evaluate your options, run some test as well.
Good luck and speedy recovery!

You did not post photos so I cannot be specific. However, if you are having bloating, this is related to your diet and not surgery. I would suggest being tested for food allergies. Do the blood and saliva testing and not skin pricks.

I am sorry to hear of the issues you are having since your procedure. No, it is not typical to have that degree of discomfort at 15 months post op. If you are not having success with your surgeon you may wish to visit a gastroenterologist to see if the issues are a result of something related to diet.

Hi Jewels1015,I'm sorry to ewer about your discomfort.There could be a number of possible reasons your are feeling like this.If you are constantly feeling bloated, it may be helpful to noice whether this occurs after having eaten certain foods, like wheat (in bread, pasta, pizza, couscous)! This is the cause for bloating in many people. Lifestyle factors play a big part in tummy and digestive issues.Feeling tight is usual if you have had a muscle repair. You don't say whether you had a full TT or a mini TT. Sometimes feeling tight below and bloating in the upper area could be from the muscles having only be repaired below your belly button.The best thing it so see your surgeon and find out what kind of muscle repair you have had. Worrying that "something was left inside" of you is a very worrying thought. An ultrasound scan would be able to answer that question. It is something your surgeon could arrange.I hope you feel better soon.

To make an assessment on the outcome of a cosmetic surgical procedure we need to see proper before and after pictures. If you don’t have before and after pictures, then ask your surgeon to forward the pictures they took. Different people respond to recovering from a full tummy tuck differently. The most common reason patients have a bulging abdomen, feeling excessively, full and tight after the procedure is individuals who have access, visceral fat, which can often be determined preoperatively, and should be addressed prior to surgery. Excess visceral fat can potentially increase intra-abdominal pressure and muscle tightening will make this worse.
A full tummy tuck is a permanent and irreversible operation. Individuals who have excess visceral fat need to lose weight to be a good candidate for the procedure. Despite your stated numbers, we need to see pictures to get an evaluation which would give significant important information regarding the outcome of your procedure, including how are you physiological feel afterwards.
Consider re-posting with proper before and after pictures or schedule in person and a second opinion, consultations with other plastic surgeons in your community.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD